Fern
Take a look at my recent post. I wanted lighter cabinets but ended up with a cherry with black glaze.
I think the key will be lighting.
We put in mega lights
Cooper LED cans 3000K floods with dimmer
GM LARC light bars UC 3000K LED with dimmer
Decorative lighting on dimmers (to be installed soon)
We do have natural lighting during the day.

I love it! It is so bright but can dim for mood - but the color stays true.

I would avoid a dark countertop. Are you looking at granite or quartz?

The solution is more lights. With the right kind of lighting, you can have black counters on cherry cabinets, and it will still be warm and cozy feeling. Undercabinet lighting is a must, as is recessed lighting that washes down the front of the uppers. What else you need depends on your layout, but it could involve semi flush fixtures, pendants, or even lamps.

You can go with a lighter color counter that has some of the reddish cherry tones in it. Save the backsplash for last.

LG quartz cabo

Santa Cecelia granite

I used Cygnus Pearl Zodiaq on cherry toned base cabinets on a project. They make a variety of light quartzes.

Thank you for all your help. i am in the process of having under counter lighting installed as well as recessed lights. It just seemed so dark and it scared me. Off to shop for counter tops. Haven't decided whether I will go with quartz or granite yet but I have some great suggestions. I will keep everyone posted.

I did the same exact thing and I was worried once they were installed. I had planned on going with black granite but ended up using Amber Yellow and I'm very happy with it. It's similiar to St. Cecilia but I liked the Amber Yellow better. Some of the slabs look completely different so check a few places.

Good luck!

I had the same panic when I first saw my cabinets being installed. They where much darker more of red toned than I had thought from the sample door. But after it is all together I love it!

Ours are maple not cherry. I wanted them to be a couple shades darker than our floor. We went with black pearl granite. Our home does have lots of light and balanced with the lighter wood work it is not too dark at all.

Susie - I have not seen the Yellow Amber Granite. I will need to take a look at that. Thank you.

RTWilliams - Your kitchen is gorgeous. Makes me feel much better. Is your hadware bright stainless?

Fern - we just did our kitchen in cherry and put in Cambria Buckingham for countertop

For lights
Cooper LED recessed lights, decorative lights to be installed, and GM LARC light bars..

It will all work out :-)

Santa Cecilia granite can have a lovely reddish element that would be great with your cherry.

WD - that sounds luscious!!

We have darker cherry cabs in a cinnamon color and did colonial cream granite. The contrast is lovely! I like lighter counters with darker cabs but I know most go with black. I have black granite in my bathroom and love the look but keeping it clean is a royal pain. My colonial cream shows nothing! I have to get down to eye level to see all the crumbs:)

fern10 - The kitchen hardware has a brushed stainless appearance. Hickory hardware P2141-SS American Diner Pull , 96Mm - Stainless Steel Finish-SS

We wanted to go light too, but the white granites and quartz looked gray in our home. With your beige floors, it might make the whites look even grayer. We went with Caesarstone Buttermilk, and most quartz companies make something similar. If you want your countertop to be the star, it's not an exciting choice, but it works really well with our olive green wall paint and red, black, and gold accent colors.